Device for holding inner tubes



Sept. 18, 1945. G. M. ANDERSON 2,334,803

DEVICE FOR HOLDING INNER TUBES Filed Nov. 6, 1944 INVENTOR. GeaMAnderaan A ZZ'ORNEY Patented Sept. 18, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR HOLDING INNER, TUBES George M. Anderson, Duval l, Wash. Application November 6, 1944, Serial No; 562,171 2 Clai s. (o1. 81'-15.2) i

This invention relates to devices for holding rubber inner tubes, and particularly to such devices for supporting such tubes of the balloon type while they are being repaired.

In the'process of patching, vulcanizing and otherwise repairing inner tubes for automobile tires, it is necessary that the surface to barepaired shall be supported insmooth and fixed positions. Much difficulty'has been met in attempting to maintain such tubes for repairing, particularly the balloon type which have an outer surface greatly exceeding the inner surface which normally fits against the wheel rim in use, particularly because the outer faces tend to form into folds or bulges because of the excess areas over the inner faces, and such folds unless smoothed down on a support will prevent proper repairing of any injuries to the tubes, and their outer faces especially. When labor is difficult to obtain, the proprietor of a repair shop, must frequently perform the duties of several mechanics, and requires all mechanical assistance available.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a simple easily constructed device, which may be operated by one man, for maintaining the outer faces of inner tubes in smooth and fixed relation, to facilitate necessary repairs thereto.

A further object is to provide a device which may be readily attached to any ordinary work bench, to comprise, a base for such attachment, with a mandrel support for the tube in convex form, with adjustable side arms for smoothin the outer face of the tube over the mandrel, and maintaining the same in such position while it is being repaired, with a frame slidably mounted for operating the arms and means for operating the frame manually and automatically.

With these and other objects to be stated, I have illustratively exemplified my invention by the accompanying drawing, of which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation with parts broken away.

Figure 2 is a side elevation.

Figure 3 is a top plan, and

Figure 4 is a detail of fractional portions of the folded over the support or mandrel, the top folds of the tube being flattened, and the lower portion of the tube being expanded.

Like characters on the different fi ures represent like parts.

The letter A, represents any workbench or platform on which a suitable base ill of the device may be attached for convenience. At each front corner of the base perpendicular sockets lI-l I,

front view of the device, with an inner tube shown are affixed, through which posts |2--l2 are slidably disposed; A strap I3 is attached at its e ds to the lower ends of the posts, and a spring M is connected at opposite. ends respectively to the strap at the lower end and tothe base at its top, whereby the posts are normally supported in upraisedpositions. A cross bar I5 is affixed to the" tops of the posts and at the opposite ends of the bar, whereby a rectangular frame is completed.

Pins l6-l6 are projected forwardly and horizontally from adjacent the opposite ends of the bar for fulcrums and on these are freely mounted rocker sleeves 11-. The sleeves each carry an arm or blade l8 which extend inward toward each other and with an upward incline and in spaced relation above said support for a tube B. The support or mandrel I9 is maintained in the rigid relation to the base by a bracket 20 therefrom and one or more bolts 20'. The mandrel is preferably provided with a convex portion indicated as I9, so that the inner tube B may be draped over the top of the mandrel and down along the edges thereof. In most cases the mandrel is preferably circular in shape and with less diameter that the diameter across the inner area of the tube, so that the tube may be draped over the top of the mandrel and the tube inner space or area will fit over or around the mandrel in convenient position for the operator while repairing the part of the tube above the apex of the mandrel. The bracket also supports the mandrel in position forward from the bench to bring it into alignment with the blades above.

Levers 2l-2l are extended upward and outward from the inner ends of the sleeves, and a retraction spring 22 is connected between the outer ends of the levers, and thus tend to cause the sleeves and blades thereon to turn toward each other from the top while the blades l8 simultaneously lean over the mandrel but spaced above sufliciently to enable the operator to readily insert the tube to be repaired. The blades, however, are limited in their rotation downward by the levers contacting the cross bar at points indicated by 23-23, which assures the continuance of clearance above the mandrel while in normal position.

In order to bring the blades downward in general position for contacting a tube when placed over the. mandrel, a foot lever 24 is pivotally connected to the floor C or other fixed body, and a connecting rod 25 is pivotally connected at its lower end to the foot lever, and pivotally connected at its upper end to the cross strap l3 for operation.

In use the operator places the tube to be repaired across the apex of the mandrel with the spot to be repaired in the center and between points where the blades would meet, and then depresses the pedal 26 and brings the blades down upon the tube, and continuing downward causes the blades to wipe down along the tube and press out all folds etc., leaving the smooth upper portion, and lower down the tube may expand as at B. It will be understood that the tension of the cross spring 22 continues to bind the blades against the sides of the tube in similar manner as the use of two human hands 'if smoothed down along the outside of the tube.

Any suitable latch as 2'! is also connected to the floor or fixed body below the foot'pedal, so

Having described my invention, I claim as new:

1. A device for holding and smoothing inner tubes for automobile tires to be repaired, comprising, a base, a convex faced holder mounted in fixed relation above the base, a frame slidably mounted in perpendicular relation with the base and holder, blades resiliently disposed above the holder and supported by the frame, means for manually drawing the blades down upon the holder and for wiping themalong the sides of the holder for smoothing an inner tube beneath the blades to facilitate accurate repairs to the tube, and means for automatically releasing the blades from the holder.

2. A device for use in repairing inner tubes for balloon tires, comprising, a fixed base, a mandrel block mounted in spaced relation above the base, cylinders perpendicularly mounted on the front corners of the base, posts slidably disposed through the cylinders, braces connecting the posts at their upper and lower ends forming a frame, arms rotatably supported by the upper brace in resilient relation above the block, means operable manually for drawing the posts-and arms downward for wiping folds from tubes when dis posed over the block and for binding such tubes over the top of the mandrel to facilitate accurate repairing of. the tubes.

- GEO. M. ANDERSON. 

